System and Method for Protecting Interior Spaces

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and improved system and method for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vents. The system may include a brace configured for mounting to the roof sheeting around the vent opening. The system may include a tray configured to catch moisture entering the interior vented spaces through the vent opening. The system may also include a vertical support extending from the brace to the tray.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/599,035, filed Feb. 15, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This invention is generally related to a system and method for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through roof vents.

2. Background

Interior portions of structures are often vented to minimize condensation within the interior spaces. For example, it is not uncommon for residential attics to include vents to allow air circulation within the attic. It is also not uncommon for the vents to provide a pathway for moisture to enter the interior spaces, particularly when precipitation is accompanied by high winds. Prior to the invention described herein, moisture entering the interior spaces was often allowed to simply drop to the floor of the interior spaces. This moisture can be harmful to the structure, and to the health of individuals within the structure. It is therefore desirable to provide a system and method for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vents.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a new and improved system and method for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vents. A first embodiment of the system may.

In one embodiment, disclosed herein is a system for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vent openings. The system may include a brace configured for mounting to the roof sheeting around the vent opening. The system may include a tray configured to catch moisture entering the interior vented spaces through the vent opening. The system may also include a vertical support extending from the brace to the tray.

In another embodiment, disclosed herein is a method for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vent openings. The method may include a step of securing a brace under a vent opening and to roof sheeting around the vent opening. The method may also include the step of extending a vertical support from the brace to a tray. In the method, the tray may be configured to catch moisture entering the interior vented spaces through the vent opening.

Other systems, methods, aspects, features, embodiments and advantages of the vehicle support disclosed herein will be, or will become, apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, aspects, features, embodiments and advantages be included within this description, and be within the scope of the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is to be understood that the drawings are solely for purpose of illustration.

Furthermore, the components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the system disclosed herein. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 shows a front slightly downward view of a moisture gathering system that includes a brace, a harness, and a tray.

FIG. 2 shows the moisture gathering system of FIG. 1 affixed to the underside of a roof.

FIG. 3 shows side perspective view of the brace, the harness, and the top of the rod of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the bottom of the tray of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description, which references to and incorporates the drawings, describes and illustrates one or more specific embodiments. These embodiments, offered not to limit but only to exemplify and teach, are shown and described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice what is claimed. Thus, for the sake of brevity, the description may omit certain information known to those of skill in the art.

FIG. 1 shows a front slightly downward view of an exemplary embodiment of a moisture gathering system 100 that shows a brace 102, a harness 104, a rod 106, and a tray 108. The harness 104 may be affixed to the brace 102 with a harness coupling 110. The rod 106 may be affixed to the harness 104 with a harness locking washer 112. The tray 108 may be affixed to the rod 106 with a tray support locking washer 114 (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 2 shows a front slightly downward view of the moisture gathering system 100 as affixed to the underside of a roof 200. The roof includes roof sheeting 202 supported by a plurality of roof rafters 206. The roof 200 may cover a plurality of joists 208. Between the joists 208 may be insulation 210.

The brace 102 may be secured to the roof sheeting 202 at a vent opening 204. The brace 102 then supports the harness 104 which supports the rod 106 which supports the tray 108. The tray 108 is thus positioned beneath the vent opening 204 and may be positioned to catch moisture (not shown) that may be blown into the vent opening 204 during inclement weather. The moisture, which is often in the form of snow, may then eventually evaporate from the tray without causing damage to the insulation 210, joists 208 and other portions (not shown) of any structure covered by the roof 200.

Rod 106 may be a 6″×¼″ diameter metal support rod with a plurality of spaced lathed grooves (not shown), for example, spaced every five inches, so sections of the rod 106 can be removed to fit a desired length. The lathed groves may also function as seats for locking washers that may be used to secure the rod 106 to the harness and the tray 108 to the rod 106. Rod 106 may be adjustable and/or extendable. The lathed grooves may also allow for the placement of locking washers (not shown) on the rod 106. Further, although shown as a vertical rod, rod 106 may also be any type of vertical support that that is able to support the tray 108 in a relatively horizontal position from the brace 102 and/or the harness 104. Rod 106 is not necessarily limited to any particular material or structure, however, rod 106 may be formed from a metal rod. Rod. 106 may be adjustable and/or extendable in a number of ways, including by being formed from a plurality of threaded sections the quantity of which is determined based on the distance between the vent opening 204 and the tray 108 that is desired. Rod 106 may also be a lockable telescoping structure as is known in the art. Vertical support 106 may include a 3

Tray 108 is shown as a concave circular tray having a conical portion 116 through which the rod 106 may pass and the concave portion, forming a moisture holding portion 118. Tray 108 may be formed from plastic. However, Tray 108 may be formed in a number of different shapes and sizes as long as the structure can be supported from the roof 200 and can be supported in a position that enables the tray 108 to catch and retain moisture that passes into the structure through the vent opening. A stabilizing washer and locking washer combination 130 may be placed on the rod 106, and seated in one of the plurality of lathed grooves, in order to stabilize the tray 108 on the rod 106.

FIG. 3 shows a side perspective view of the brace 102, the harness 104, and the top of the rod 106. Brace 102 may be a metal mounting bracket adjustable from 6½″ to 10½″ and which may be attached to the roof sheeting 202 underneath vent opening 204. The brace 102 may include an interior telescoping arm 302 and an exterior telescoping arm 304. The interior telescoping arm 302 may include a claw end 306 and an internally sliding end 308. The exterior telescoping arm 304 may include a claw end 310 and an externally sliding end 312. The claw end 306 and the claw end 310 may be used to grip the roof sheeting 202 at the vent opening 204 as shown in FIG. 2. The claw end 306 and the claw end 310 may be sized to snugly fit on the edge of the roof sheeting 202 at the vent opening 204.

Harness 104 may include an angled portion 320, a vertical portion 322, and a horizontal portion 324. Harness 104 may be formed in a number of manners as will be understood by those having skill in the art.

Harness coupling 110 may be a thumb screw tightening coupling that is secured to the interior telescoping arm 302. However, a number of different coupling devices known in the art may act as the harness coupling 110. The harness coupling 110 may also attach to any portion of the brace 102, including the exterior telescoping arm 304. The harness locking washer 112 may be a number of locking washers known in the art, and may be seated in one of the plurality of lathed grooves.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed view of the bottom of the tray 108. The tray 108 may be secured to the rod 106 using a tray support 402 that may be conformed to the shape of the bottom of the tray 108. The tray support 402 may be secured to the rod 108 with a tray support washer 404 and the tray support locking washer 404. The tray support locking washer may be seated in one of the plurality of lathed grooves in the rod 106.

In one embodiment, disclosed herein is a system for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vent openings, such as vent opening 204. The system may include a brace, such as brace 102, configured for mounting to the roof sheeting, such as roof sheeting 202, around the vent opening. The system may include a tray, such as tray 108, configured to catch moisture entering the interior vented spaces through the vent opening. The system may also include a vertical support, such as rod 106, extending from the brace to the tray.

In another embodiment, disclosed herein is a method for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vent openings, such as vent opening 204, the method including the step of securing a brace, such as brace 102, under a vent opening, such as vent opening 204, and to roof sheeting, such as roof sheeting 202, around the vent opening. The method may also include the step of extending a vertical support, such as rod 108, from the brace to a tray, such as tray 108. In the method, the tray may be configured to catch moisture entering the interior vented spaces through the vent opening.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or variant described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or variants. All of the embodiments and variants described in this description are exemplary embodiments and variants provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and not necessarily to limit the scope of legal protection afforded the appended claims.

The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use that which is defined by the appended claims. The following claims are not intended to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other embodiments and modifications will readily occur to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of these teachings. Therefore, the following claims are intended to cover all such embodiments and modifications when viewed in conjunction with the above specification and accompanying drawings. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vent openings, the system comprising: a brace configured for mounting to the roof sheeting around the vent opening; a tray configured to catch moisture entering the interior vented spaces through the vent opening; and a vertical support extending from the brace to the tray.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the brace is adjustable to the size of the vent opening.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the brace includes a claw configured to grip roof sheeting at the vent opening.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the brace includes telescoping arms.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the vertical support is a rod.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more locking washers secures the tray to the vertical support.
 7. The system of claims 1, wherein the distance of the tray from the vent opening is adjustable.
 8. A system for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vent openings, the system comprising: means for supporting a hanging structure under the vent opening; means for securing a tray to the means for supporting.
 9. A method for protecting interior vented spaces of structures from damage due to moisture entering through vent openings, the method comprising the steps of: securing a brace under a vent opening and to roof sheeting around the vent opening; and extending a vertical support from the brace to a tray, wherein the tray is configured to catch moisture entering the interior vented spaces through the vent opening. 